A survey finds that 80% of students in Generation Z -- those between ages 14 and 23 -- say they believe in the value of a college education and only a quarter say they can have a good career without a degree. The data also show that while this cohort prefers learning via video, only 26% preferred online classes.

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As it moves toward reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, the US House Committee on Education and Labor has released a report highlighting the value of a college degree, emphasizing accountability and accessibility. "Rather than diminishing the value of a college degree, we should recognize that all students should have access to the substantial financial and social benefits that come with a quality higher education," Committee Chairman Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said.

Some colleges are taking steps to address students' needs outside of the classroom, panelists said at a conference for community-college leaders hosted by the nonprofit Achieving the Dream. Amarillo College in Texas polled its students to determine their needs and found that housing, transportation, utilities, child care and legal services were among the challenges they faced.

A report shows a decline in full-time faculty hires at public master's and doctoral institutions between 2008 and 2016, compared with the relatively steady hiring practices at public baccalaureate institutions over that time. George Mehaffy of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities says master's and doctoral colleges have been hit harder by funding cuts than public flagship universities.

Educause's annual teaching and learning survey found that overall top concerns among higher-education leaders include faculty development and online and blended learning. Providing more faculty training was a top priority at colleges focused on granting associate and master's degrees, while "digital and information literacy" was a top-ranked issue among bachelor's degree-focused institutions, the data show.

A national Reverse Transfer initiative could confer associate degrees on nearly two million students who have transferred from a community college to a four-year school without a degree. Research shows students with two-year degrees are more likely to attain a bachelor's degree and have better employment opportunities even if they do not finish.